Dairy farmers are encouraged to answer their telephones in January 2014 when representatives from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service will contact selected dairy farmers in 18 states, including Ohio.

On Nov. 20, the Senate Agriculture Committee heard testimony and accepted five amendments to Senate Bill 150, legislation to address nutrient management and water quality in Ohio but delayed a vote while more work is done.

With the introduction of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly known as Obamacare, OFBF has been studying the intricacies of the act and how it affects the entire health care industry. In the works is a health benefits plan to help Ohio Farm Bureau members deal with ACA issues

Here is just a sample of the ways that county Farm Bureaus throughout the state have worked to reach out to their communities this year. There are many more ways to get involved than what we could print here.

Farm Bureau’s grassroots process of policy development continued at the American Farm Bureau Resolution Committee meeting this week. Several of Ohio’s policy suggestions were accepted and will come before the voting delegates at American Farm Bureau annual meeting.

Many Ohio Farm Bureau members and staff will travel to San Antonio Jan. 11-15 to celebrate this past year's achievements and represent Ohio as Farm Bureau policy priorities are set for the coming year. Follow along here as we share the story from the digital eyes and ears of those in attendance.

Dates and locations for the 2014 Ohio Farm Bureau Regional Cabinet meetings have been set, and county Farm Bureau leaders are invited to attend for a great opportunity to broaden leadership skills, gather new ideas, and of course interact with their peers.

The Ohio Sheep Improvement Association is again partnering with Ohio State University Extension to sponsor the 2014 Sheep and Goat Web series, a training and informational program for farmers. The Web series will assist sheep and goat farmers in becoming better managers and provide advice to those interested in entering this growing industry.

Recently, an Ohio Farm Bureau member received an unexpected inspection from the Occupational and Safety Health Administration (OSHA) on his farm. We looked into it and found no reason why the farm shouldn't have qualified for OSHA’s small farm exemption. We quickly referred the member to legal counsel knowing something strange was going on.

After more than a year of being heavily lobbied to remove genetically modified ingredients from Cheerios, two weeks ago General Mills announced that its original Cheerios are now non-GMO. Many folks in the farm community have expressed strong views on Cheerios news.

Many of Ohio’s local communities have instituted zoning as a way to orderly plan the various uses of land. However, important statutory protections limit the reach of local zoning to agricultural land in certain circumstances. Here are a few things to know about zoning and land use.

Ohio’s water quality and nutrient management bill, Senate Bill 150, introduced by Senators Cliff Hite and Bob Peterson, unanimously passed the Senate Jan. 23. Ohio Farm Bureau testified in support of the bill and made it a “key vote”, as its provisions met Farm Bureau policy.

A recent inspection of an Ohio farm by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration raised qustions about the scope of the agency's oversight. Leah Curtis, Ohio Farm Bureau's Director of Agricultural Law, explains the exemption that has typically applied to small farms.

One problem we consistently hear about from Farm Bureau members is trespassing. Unfortunately, the amount of land that farmers have can often times be enticing to those who want to hike, ride ATVs, or just cause trouble. Members also are often concerned about what their liability is in certain situations, if visitors to their property get hurt. Here are five things to know about Ohio’s trespassing and landowner liability laws.

Farm Bureau works hard advocating at the Ohio Statehouse, Ohio Supreme Court, Congress, Federal Supreme Court and with local governments to ensure property rights and address other issues landowners have. Here are a few highlights of that advocacy work.

In 1985, the Beef Checkoff was started to promote the beef industry. Simply put, $1 from every head sold goes back to the industry. Half of that stays in Ohio and the other half goes to national programs.

Results of a recent survey commissioned by Nationwide Insurance and conducted by Harris Interactive show that just 40 percent of consumers have read their current insurance policy in its entirety, while just 7 percent described their insurance policy as simple.

At Ohio Farm Bureau’s 2013 annual meeting, members called for the establishment of a study group that includes 22 county leaders who would analyze and make recommendations on a new membership model for the organization to ensure its future strength.

The Ohio Produce Marketing Agreement, which will set voluntary standards for farmers, has been considered for several years. Legislation passed in 2012 paved the way for voluntary programs such as this.

Volunteers working membership have a new option to sign up new members that is as easy as pulling a phone out of your pocket. No more carrying around forms that can be a hassle and hard to decipher later on. Ohio Farm Bureau’s volunteers.growwithfb.org website, designed to be mobile ready, allows the membership to be paid on the spot with a credit card.

Farm machinery has not been allowed to use a portion of U.S Route 20, or the Norwalk Bypass, in Huron County for many years. Recently, several farmers including two Huron County Farm Bureau members, John Brooks and Bill Ommert, submitted testimony on House Bill 249, which seeks to resolve the longstanding issue that has impacted farmers in that area.

Ohio's county Farm Bureau presidents are taking their annual trip to Washington, D.C. March 3-5. Check here for the latest updates from Ohio Farm Bureau, media across the state and the farmers while on the ground on Capitol Hill.

Water, and the ability to remove it, is extremely important to Ohio farmers. Ohio farmers are often encountering issues with the water on their property. Ohio’s water law is somewhat limited, so Ohio Farm Bureau's Director of Agricultural Law Leah Curtis gives five tips to help you understand how water law works in Ohio.